GNN, NEW YORK: U.S. President Donald Trump has voiced strong support for the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), saying the strategic corridor could play an important role in strengthening energy security and developing alternative routes for transporting oil and other energy supplies.

Speaking at a meeting with leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Arab countries on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly, Trump said attacks on commercial vessels along routes linked to Iran had highlighted the need to move the region’s energy infrastructure toward safer and alternative routes.

Trump said oil and other energy supplies could be transported more securely through pipelines and alternative routes, emphasizing the potential importance of IMEC in this regard.

The U.S. president also said the Middle East was entering a phase in which it could overcome challenges that had persisted for decades. He said the United States was working with its regional partners to make the Middle East safer and more prosperous.

IMEC is envisioned as a major connectivity initiative linking India with the Middle East and Europe through transport, energy and infrastructure networks. The corridor has been promoted as a potential platform for expanding trade and strengthening regional economic connectivity.